Process plants in the dairy industry must meet specific standards and hygienic design features to ensure safety in all stages of production; all measuring equipment plays a fundamental role in order to ensure, to the production companies and their consumers , the assurance that their product is absolutely safe and that the production cycle fulfil the actual regulations.

For this purpose WIKA is able to provide dedicated solutions and competent organizational structure to support customers in all phases of the life cycle of a plant, from engineering to construction, and from start-up to maintenance and periodic checks.

Our experience and constant dialogue with our customers has led us to focus our attention on a critical point in the dairy industry processing: the "T" connection where the most of measurement instrumentation are normally installed. These instruments are usually connected to the process with Clamp or DIN11851 attacks, in these areas the washing cycles fail to be fully effective, leaving, sometimes, traces of product that can generate to phenomena of bacterial proliferation. WIKA offers IN-LINE solutions for pressure and temperature measurement eliminating the "T" connection and all the problems related to them.

IN-LINE pressure measurement:

WIKA provides an IN-LINE diaphragm seal for the measurement of pressure that meet the design requirements hygienic requested by 3 A and EHEDG, the material in contact AISI 316, resistant to CIP and SIP cycles, it is possible to order all types of sanitary process connection. The IN-LINE diaphragm seal is like a completely straight pipe with no blind spots (difficult to washing), the whole internal surface is our measuring pressure membrane which, via an approved oil filling FDA approved, transmit the pressure to an electronic or mechanical instrument installed above it.

IN-LINE temperature measurement:

The proposal WIKA solution for temperature measurement of IN-LINE was conceived as "plug and forget", we offer a socket with no connection to the process that will be welded to the pipe of your system, within this socket you have a bulb measuring constructed to have no dead space where bacteria can proliferate. The measuring element (RTD) can be unplugged from the socket to perform periodic calibration or replacement in the event of failures, all without ever interrupting the working process. The internal surface of this socket has a roughness less than 0.38 micron with electro polishing processes.

In case of diaphragm rupture in the pressure gauge with hygienic diaphragm seal and Bourdon spring inside the process, liquid goes into the spring so it creates a blind spot not washable where the bacteria growth, and the operator can’t recognize the failure because the gauge continues to indicate the pressure inside the pipe or tank.

Among the new proposals offered by WIKA there is a new pressure gauge model PG43SA-S, with sanitary connections, without internal filling liquid and with mechanical transmission system for indicating the pressure, no longer use the principle of Bourdon. This allows, in case of diaphragm breakage, to immediately realize the fault because the indicated pressure goes to zero and you can see the process liquid inside the gauge.

This new model has a zero point adjustment screw for any corrections after the periodic checks with comparative sample instruments, and a new external design for hygienic applications.

Diaphragm break monitoring system

To recognize, in real time, the condition of the membrane of a pressure transmitter or a pressure gauge can help you to prevent major product pollution problems. Let us think for example at a tank level measurement with hydrostatic sensor, if you damage the sensor diaphragm can have an infiltration of product inside the instrument. In this case is impossible to sanitize by washing, so you can have a bacterial proliferation and damage your production.

WIKA has patented a monitoring system consisting of two membranes, among which a vacuum is created so that they adhere perfectly without creating false measures. In case of the first membrane damage the vacuum is immediately lost and, with a local or remote indication to supervisory system with a pressure switch, you have immediately the real condition of your membrane. In this way I have not only the instant awareness of the problem but I can also finish my production cycle thanks to the second membrane that continues to works safely. The system is provided with sanitary connections and is fully customizable with mixed solutions ( electronic and mechanical solution in the same instrument).

Contact:

WIKA Italia Srl & C. Sas

Daniele Calvo

Market Segment Manager Food&Pharma Via Marconi, 8 - 20020 Arese (MI)

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